JCC says bandh will continue till target is achieved
Morung Express News
Dimapur | January 29
The Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) has retracted its earlier announcement of daily 12-hour bandh till February 1 and stated that it will be indefinite from January 30. At a media briefing on Sunday evening, JCC convenor Supu Jamir informed that the bandh, relaxed on Sunday, will resume and come into effect from 7:00 am, Monday. It was though unclear whether the term “indefinite” implied till February 1 or beyond.
“The bandh will start at 7:00 am and will continue till we achieve our target,” said Jamir.
It will be followed by a rally at the Deputy Commissioner’s office on January 31. Stating that the bandh will remain in effect, Jamir termed the proposed rally as “a final call (to the state government) not to conduct the elections” scheduled on February 1. In this regard, “respective hohos” were asked to inform members to reach the venue by 9:00 am.
With the January 28 bandh marred by alcohol-fuelled bandh enforcers resorting to unruly and unsavoury conduct in certain pockets, the JCC appealed “volunteers to be disciplined” and behave “while discharging their duties.”
While it appealed the state government to review the decision to conduct the ULB elections, the JCC warned that the state government and the candidates in the fray will be held equally responsible if any unwanted situation occur. It further appealed election officials to refrain from the poll process. Ward/colony chairpersons and headmen were also asked to not allow poll related activity in their respective jurisdictions.
JCC says one Ind
candidate ‘retires’
Reiterating the call to contesting candidates to withdraw, the JCC stated that 24 have so far withdrawn. As per the JCC, the latest to “retire” was an Independent candidate from Ward 20, who tendered letter of forfeiture to the Returning Officer on January 29.
Exemptions from the bandh include, pharmacies, medical establishments, para-military, police, district administration, press, newspaper vendors, funerals, weddings, students on exams and patients seeking medical assistance, including attendants. Newspaper vendors have been asked to finish dispatch by 7:00 am and in the event there are delays, the JCC appealed bandh volunteers to consider.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, residences of as many as four contesting candidates were locked down by people opposing the elections in Dimapur.
CPO imposes total bandh from January 30 onwards
DIMAPUR, JANUARY 29 (MExN): The Chakhroma Public Organisation (CPO) has decided to impose a total bandh under its jurisdiction from January 30 onwards. A press note from the CPO advised all travellers to bear with the bandh and “understand the stand of the people as it fights against the alien laws in our land.” The bandh will be ineffect from Piphema till the Assam-Nagaland border on National Highways and all adjoining routes from 7:00am to 5:00pm.
ULB elections should be
through consensus: NSF
DIMAPUR, JANUARY 29 (MExN): The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) today asked the Nagaland State Government to “consider and relate to the suggestions of all the stakeholders through meticulously consultation” and stated that the decision to conduct the ULB elections should be taken through “consensus.”
A press note from the NSF while welcoming any form of developmental initiatives, however expressed concern at the “unfortunate situations surfacing since the last few days and which could rather have been averted or addressed.”
Considering the mass opposition on the conduct of the ULB election in the state by the Naga Hoho and various tribe organisations in its present form, the NSF appealed to the state government to address to the strong objections raised. It also urged upon the various mass based organizations to register their resentment in a peaceful manner and refrain from resorting to violent protest.
